Federal representatives from New Jersey are applauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) move to increase the reimbursement percentage for communities still struggling and paying for rebuilding from the effects of Sandy.

FEMA has agreed to increase the reimbursement to 90 percent, up from 75 percent, according to U.S. Rep.Chris Smith, R-4th.

“This decision will greatly help New Jersey communities still dealing with significant damage issues as a result of tropical storm Sandy, while trying to figure out potential ratable losses,” Smith said in a statement released yesterday afternoon.

“This will greatly enhance our efforts to rebuild and restore what was damaged or lost to the storm, help us prepare for future severe weather events, and help New Jersey become better and stronger than we were before the storm,” said U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, D-NJ.

The decision means an immediate and additional $262 million to New Jersey municipalities, according to Smith’s office.